Taylor Bicht
2 min read • May 12, 2022
Posted in
Heading to Philadelphia with a 3-2 lead, the Miami will look to close out the series versus the 76ers after a resounding 35-point Game 5 win. Each team has won at home in the series meaning the advantage and pressure falls on Philly to extend the series to win or go home Game 7.
Miami Heat SIC Health Score - 85.9
The big but not surprising news is the absence of starting PG Kyle Lowry for the second straight game. The Villanova alum picked up a hamstring injury at the end of the first round Atlanta Hawks series and has only played twice in the second round after returning Game 3.
Lowry likely reinjured the hamstring at the end of Game 4 and missed the Game 5 blowout. The Heat have won all three games in the series without him and will likely benefit from his absence due to his current ineffectiveness on both ends of the court.
The Miami injury report is as long as Pitbull’s list of upcoming tour dates but all will play through their assorted injuries including Tyler Herro (ankle), Caleb Martin (ankle), Max Strus (hamstring), P.J. Tucker (calf) and Gabe Vincent (knee).
Back-up C Dewayne Dedmon is nursing a head cold but after missing Game 4 and pushing through Game 5, should be well enough to his usual minutes going forward.
Philadelphia 76ers SIC Health Score - 90.1
The City of Brotherly Love will need to rebound after an embarrassing loss in Miami where star big man Joel Embiid produced statistical his worst output of the playoffs scoring just 17 points.
Embiid will be playing in his fourth game back since returning from a right orbital fracture and mild concussion. The MVP runner up has yet to regain his NBA regular season scoring title form producing over 20 points just once this series.
A reason for this is the lingering thumb injury that has prevented him from fulling opening up his offensive arsenal, specifically three point shooting where he has made just one in 13 attempts since the initial injury.
Defensive wizard Matisse Thybulle is listed as questionable due to left foot soreness.
Sixers hold the home and health advantage heading into a crucial Game 6 with betting value available at FanDuel Sportsbook.
Injury-Based Plays
Joel Embiid O25.5 Points - The Process will play in his fourth straight game since injury and should be hungry to score in a do or die game, Embiid has scored 20 just once but should be more aggressive on the offensive end
Danny Green O7.5 Points - With Thybulle nursing a foot issue, expect Green to play more minutes and should easily eclipse this number doing so twice in the last three games including a 21 point effort at home May 6th
Jimmy Butler O5.5 Assists - Will go back to the well after missing this prop by .5 last time around, the prop has lowered by one providing great value as the situation has not changed, Lowry is out again meaning Butler will have additional opportunities bringing the ball up the floor and running the offense, gone over prop number 3/4 games
Written by Taylor Bicht